The bar is the heart of Italian daily life, fast, friendly, and built on ritual.
In this module you learn to order coffee, pastries, and drinks, pay at the till, and get the small things right that locals notice. No grammar. Just the Italian you’ll use on your first morning in Italy.
You will learn how Italian menus are structured, how to book a table by phone, how to order confidently, how to handle dietary needs, and how to read your bill without surprises. You will also pick up the cultural knowledge that separates a tourist from someone who actually knows how things work — the coperto, the contorno, the vino della casa, the apericena, and why the doggy bag does not exist.
Most travellers today don’t just book hotels. This module covers both: checking in at a hotel and dealing with a host when you’ve rented an apartment. The language overlaps more than you’d think — and the key phrases that get things sorted are the same either way.
You’ll learn how to check in, ask about WiFi and breakfast, report a problem, and leave on time. You’ll also pick up two essential grammar structures: c’è / ci sono for describing what’s there (or isn’t), and the past tense for when something has gone wrong.
Italy has one of the best rail networks in Europe. Trains are fast, frequent, and — once you know the system — surprisingly easy to navigate. Buses and metros vary by city. Taxis are straightforward if you know what to say.
This module gives you the language for all three. You’ll learn how to buy a ticket, ask about platforms and times, get on the right bus, and tell a taxi driver where you’re going. No guesswork, no pointing at screens.
By the end you’ll be able to move around an Italian city — and between cities — without needing anyone to rescue you.
Module 3 — In albergo / In appartamento · Vocabulary
The words you’ll actually need
Click ▶ to hear each word. At check-in, in the room, and when something goes wrong.
Key vocabulary
hotel
appartamento
both
il check-in
check-in
il check-out
check-out
la reception
front desk
il receptionist
receptionist (m)
la receptionist
receptionist (f)
il proprietario
owner / host (m)
la proprietaria
owner / host (f)
il codice
door code
la chiave
key
la camera
room / bedroom
la camera singola
single room
la camera doppia
double room
il bagno
bathroom
la doccia
shower
il letto
bed
l’asciugamano
towel
la colazione
breakfast
la cucina
kitchen
i fornelli
hob / cooker
la lavatrice
washing machine
il WiFi
WiFi
il riscaldamento
heating
l’aria condizionata
air conditioning
non funziona
it doesn’t work
è rotto / rotta
it’s broken
c’è un problema
there’s a problem
Phrases that get things done
Ho una prenotazione.
I have a reservation.
A che nome?
Under what name?
A che ora è il check-in?
What time is check-in?
A che ora devo lasciare la camera?
What time do I need to leave the room?
C’è il WiFi? Qual è la password?
Is there WiFi? What’s the password?
La doccia non funziona.
The shower isn’t working.
Non c’è acqua calda.
There’s no hot water.
Posso avere altri asciugamani?
Can I have more towels?
C’è un problema con la chiave.
There’s a problem with the key.
Dove metto la spazzatura?
Where do I put the rubbish?
La colazione è inclusa?
Is breakfast included?
Posso lasciare le valigie?
Can I leave my bags?
The most useful sentence in this whole module: “C’è un problema con…” followed by whatever the problem is. You don’t need to explain everything — just name the thing that isn’t working.